A review by kiri_johnston
Esther Waters by George Moore

4.0

Esther is an absolutely fantastic character - brave, hardworking, resourceful and strong - and I'm glad that this treats her as a person rather than a caricature of ideal womanhood. This novel and the way it portrays Esther's struggles feel so ahead of its time - I wonder how it was received in the 1890s!! It's so refreshing to see a Victorian tale with a working-class character that isn't overly moralistic and preachy. Sure, Esther's religious upbringing motivates many of her decisions, but her nature is guided more by her personal morals - ie securing a good future for herself and her young son.
I loved the way in which Moore also exposes the hypocrisy inherent in 'polite' society; it's something I wish would have been more apparent in similar novels like Gaskell's 'Ruth'.